Oral administration of Lactobacillus plantarum CQPC11 attenuated the airway inflammation in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced Balb/c mouse model of asthma.

This study investigated the antiasthmatic and anti-inflammatory effects of Lactobacillus plantarum-CQPC11 (LP-CQPC11) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic Balb/c mice. Administration of different doses of LP-CQPC11 (105 , 107 , and 109 colony-forming unit [CFU]/mouse) effectively reduced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and the lung W/D ratio in asthmatic mice. LP-CQPC11 treatment reduced the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the BALF and attenuated histologic edema in asthmatic mice. Administration of LP-CQPC11 decreased the serum levels of OVA-specific IgE, IgE, and OVA-specific IgG1. LP-CQPC11 treatment decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-13, IL-5, and IL-6) in the BALF of asthmatic mice. In addition, LP-CQPC11 also elevated the mRNA levels of Foxp3 and T-bet and decreased the mRNA levels of Gata3 and RORγt in asthmatic mice lungs. Administration of LP-CQPC11 also reduced OVA-induced oxidative stress by improving the activities of GSH-Px, SOD, and catalase in the lungs. Finally, LP-CQPC11 treatment also significantly decreased the activation of the NF-κB pathway to modulate the inflammatory reaction in the lungs of asthmatic mice. The results from this study clearly demonstrated that oral administration of LP-CQPC11 exhibited outstanding activity in attenuating OVA-induced asthma in a mouse model. Furthermore, LP-CQPC11 may be an effective microecologic agent in preventing allergic asthma in the future. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Allergic asthma is a common chronic inflammation-associated respiratory disease. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known as a health product involved in modulating immune tolerance and play important roles in disease prevention and treatment. Many studies have reported that LAB, as probiotics, exhibits great antioxidation, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities and have health benefits in gastrointestinal disorders. In fact, human studies have confirmed that Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains have an effective activity to reduce the risk of allergic asthma. LP-CQPC11 was isolated from Sichuan pickled cabbages (a type of LAB-fermented vegetable product, also called Sichuan paocai) and was reported to reduce d-galactose-induced aging in mice in our previous study. However, the antiasthmatic and anti-inflammatory activities of LP-CQPC11 are unclear. The current study investigated the antiasthmatic and anti-inflammatory effects of LP-CQPC11 on OVA-induced asthmatic Balb/c mice.

Reply to Comments on 'A functional polymorphism rs10830963 in melatonin receptor 1B associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus'.

Th authors of 'A functional polymorphism rs10830963 in melatonin receptor 1B associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus' (Bioscience Reports (2019) 39, 12) have written a reply in response to the correspondence piece by Rosta et al. (Bioscience Reports (2020) 40, 2).

A functional polymorphism rs10830963 in melatonin receptor 1B associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

The melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) polymorphism rs10830963 C>G has been reported to be associated with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with inconsistent results. To clarify the effect of the polymorphism on the risk of GDM, a meta-analysis therefore was performed. Pooled OR with its corresponding 95%CI was used to estimate the strength of the association. Totally 14 eligible studies with a number of 5033 GDM patients and 5614 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Results indicated that the variant G allele was significantly associated with an increased GDM risk (CG vs. CC: OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.11-1.40, P < 0.001; GG vs. CC: OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.45-2.19, P < 0.001; G vs. C: OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.21-1.47, P < 0.001). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, similar results were found in Asians (CG vs. CC: OR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.02-1.28, P = 0.020; GG vs. CC: OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.23-1.89, P < 0.001; G vs. C: OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.10-1.37, P < 0.001) and in Caucasians (CG vs. CC: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.16-1.70, P < 0.001; GG vs. CC: OR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.54-3.17, P < 0.001; G vs. C: OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.24-1.73, P < 0.001). FPRP and TSA analyses confirmed findings support that the rs10830963 G allele increases the risk of GDM, and further functional experimental studies are warranted to explore and clarify the potential mechanism.

[Dynamic prediction on the number of influenza-like cases in Gansu province based on data from the influenza sentinel surveillance program, from 2006 to 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the epidemiological trend on the number of influenza-like cases and to explore the feasibility of early warning systems of influenza in Gansu province. METHODS: Based on data from the influenza sentinel surveillance program, a sequence chart was used to analyze the epidemiological trend on the number of influenza-like illness (ILI) cases. Both control chart and mobile percentile method were used to select the threshold of premium alert for the ILI of sentinel surveillance program. Warning effects were assessed by statistical model. RESULTS: The prevalence of influenza were both low in 2007 and 2008. Alert thresholds for ILI of Sentinel surveillance was built. The thresholds were higher alert in winter, but lower in summer. Both Seasonal Exponential Smoothing Model and Multiplicative Seasonal ARMA Model (1, 1, 1) (0, 1, 0) were used to dynamically predict the weekly percentage of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI%) of 2011. The concordance rates (predicted = actual) were 100% for both of them. According to the RMSE values, the dynamically predicted effect of the seasonal exponential smoothing model was superior to ARIMA. CONCLUSION: Dynamic prediction on the number of influenza-like cases could reflect the epidemiological trend of influenza in Gansu province, but with some limitations.